EU410     
Interdisciplinary Research Methods and Design

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Waltraud Schelkle COW 1.06

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in European Studies (Research), MSc in European Studies: Ideas, Ideologies and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas, Ideologies and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe and MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

This series of workshops and lectures offers an introduction to research methods and design for all students taking masters degrees in the European Institute. Themes discussed include: methods in the social sciences and in the humanities; common problems of research design; advice on writing coursework essays and dissertations; advice on critical reading and interpretation of texts; the logic of case-studies; comparative research and an introduction to quantitative methods and data sources. Each session will consist of short lecture elements followed by group work in which students with their different backgrounds help each other to solve specific problems of research design. 

Teaching

6 hours of lectures and 3 hours of workshops in the MT. 6 hours of lectures and 3 hours of workshops in the LT.

A total of 6 hours of lectures in both MT and LT. One three-hour workshop in week 6 of MT and LT.

Indicative reading

Bob Hancké, Intelligent Research Design: A guide for beginning researchers in the social sciences, Oxford UP 2009. 

Assessment

There is no examination for this course.

Teachers' comment

This is an unexamined course. We do not currently undertake a course survey.

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2014/15: 96

Average class size 2014/15: Unavailable

Controlled access 2014/15: No

Lecture capture used 2014/15: Yes (LT)

Value: Non-assessed

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills